Integrated perforated flocculating baffle system

ABSTRACT

An integrated perforated flocculating baffle system for use in a clarifier tank with a tank bottom, and a peripheral vertical wall bounding the interior of the tank is formed by a plurality of individual baffles interconnected and mounted to a support element, extending vertically inside the tank forming a rigid wall of perforated baffles allowing incoming water to pass through its openings and through gaps between individual baffles promoting flocculation of the suspended matter, and distributing the flow equally and uniformly throughout the settling the clarifiers. Each baffle includes solid linear and curved sections followed by perforated sections. The baffles are interconnected along the length by cross connectors to ensure rigidity. The resulting system provides an integrated perforated baffle system by which the water flows uniformly within the tank and flocculation is enhanced.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

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STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

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THE NAMES OF THE PARTIES TO A JOINT RESEARCH AGREEMENT Not applicableINCORPORATION-BY-REFERENCE OF MATERIAL SUBMITTED ON A CMPCAT DISC

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BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates to a system of integrated perforated flocculatingbaffles for use in solids separation and settling tanks, the bafflesystem consisting of a plurality of interconnected perforated bafflesattached to and forming a flocculation compartment.

2. Description of the Related Art

The present invention relates to a system of baffles for a tank forseparation of solids from the water by gravitational forces in water andwastewater treatment. The tank where the inventive system of baffledevice is used is typically circular, square or rectangular in shape.

In water and wastewater treatment where sedimentation tanks, also knownin the art as clarifiers or settling tanks, are used, the efficiency ofthe tanks is governed by the amount suspended matter removed. Densitycurrents resulting from the difference in specific gravity betweensuspended matter and water or the differential temperature between theatmosphere and the water contained in the tank represent a majordeterrent to the tank removal efficiency. Density difference createsstrong currents and hydraulic short circuiting within the tank reducingthe effective volume available for flocculation and settling of thesuspended matter and re-suspends the settled solids. To enhancehydraulics regime and flocculation within the tank, several types offeedwells (also know as center wells) have been developed over the yearsmainly for circular clarifiers.

Representative examples of prior art of feedwells and the like aredisclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 2,702,124 to Stengel, U.S. Pat. No. 3,175,692to Edgerton, U.S. Pat. No. 3,486,628 to Darby, U.S. Pat. No. 3,966,617to Zaenkert, U.S. Pat. No. 4,270,676 to Green, U.S. Pat. No. 4,985,148to Monteith, U.S. Pat. No. 5,378,378 to Meurer, U.S. Pat. No. 5,384,049to Murphy, U.S. Pat. No. 5,714,068 to Brown, U.S. Pat. No. 6,099,743 toPederson, U.S. Pat. No. 6,276,537 to Esler and U.S. Pat. No. 6,800,209to Wright. All of these feedwells and energy dissipating inlet designsemphasized the importance of dissipating the energy of the incomingwater as means for improving flocculation. None of these prior artfeedwells or energy dissipating inlets was designed to reduce oreliminate the currents produced by difference in specific gravitybetween suspended solids and water or the differential temperaturebetween the atmosphere and the water contained in the clarifier. Inaddition, many of these prior art feedwells and energy dissipatinginlets are limited in application to certain configuration ofclarifiers. Moreover, no prior art reference discloses a plurality ofinterconnected individual perforated baffles with each baffle includinga linear solid and curved sections followed by open sections, supportedon the top to a structural element.

It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to provide a systemon plural, interconnected baffles, curved to match the peripheralcontour of the circular feedwell in case of circular tank or,alternatively, linear to match the supporting structure in case of noncircular tank, forming a rigid wall of perforated baffle systemextending downward inside the tank.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides an integrated perforated flocculatingbaffle system designed to satisfy the aforementioned need. Theintegrated perforated flocculating baffle system of the presentinvention both enhances flocculation and reduces the adverse effect ofthe solids-induced or thermal-induced density currents by eliminatingflow entrainment from the main settling zone of the clarifiers into theflocculation zone and providing nearly uniform flow through itsperforated surface.

The present invention presents an interconnected baffle system forming arigid wall of perforated baffles allowing incoming water to pass throughits openings promoting flocculation of the suspended matter, anddistributing the flow equally and uniformly throughout the settling zoneof the clarifiers. The baffle system consists of a plurality ofinterconnected perforated baffles curved to match the peripheral contourof the circular feedwell in case of circular clarifier or,alternatively, linear to match the supporting structure in case of noncircular tank. The baffle system divides the clarifier into twocompartments; one before and one after the baffle system. Thecompartment before the baffle system is for flocculation of thesuspended matter and dissipating the energy of the incoming water andthe compartment after the baffle system is for settling of suspendedmatter. Each baffle includes linear solid and curved sections followedby perforated sections. Baffles are secured on the top to the feed well,in case of circular clarifier, and a supporting beam, in case ofnon-circular clarifier in a curtain-alike fashion. The baffles areinterconnected along the length by cross connectors to ensure rigidity.

In a currently preferred implementation, the individual baffles arefabricated from a molded reinforced fiberglass composite as one piece.Thus, each molded baffle incorporates the linear and curved solidssections and perforated sections. Most preferably, the thickness of thefiberglass panels is in the range from 3/16^(th) to ½^(th) of an inch, arange that provide structural integrity to the whole baffle system.

The features and advantages of the present invention will becomeapparent to those skilled in the art upon reading of the followingdetailed description when taken in conjunction with the drawings wherethere is shown an illustrative embodiment of the invention and theclaims where there is indication of the scope of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the following detailed description, reference will be made to theattached drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an integrated perforated flocculatingbaffle system of the present invention mounted to a support beam inrectangular clarifier.

FIG. 2 is a detailed view of the individual baffle.

FIG. 3 is a cross section through the solid portion of the baffle.

FIG. 4 is a cross section through the perforated portion of the baffle.

FIG. 5 is a detailed view of the cross connectors the baffles along thelength.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring to the drawings and particularly to FIG. 1, there isillustrated an integrated perforated flocculating baffle system,generally designated 10, of the present invention which is mounted to asupport beam 40, in rectangular clarifier (not shown). Basically, theintegrated baffle system 10 includes individual baffles 12, and crossconnectors 14. which is mounted to a support beam 40, in rectangularclarifier (not shown). Basically, the integrated baffle system 10includes individual baffles 12, and cross connectors 14.

Referring to FIG. 2, detailed view of the individual baffle 12 is shown.Each baffle consists of a linear solid section 16, curved sections 18and open sections 20. The width, length and thickness of individualbaffle 12 are functions of the size, shape and type of the clarifier.Generally, the width of the individual baffle ranges between 6 inches to96 inches. Mounting holes 22 to support individual baffles from supportbeam 40 are drilled in the linear solid section 16.

Referring to FIG. 3, the size of the linear solid section 16 is afunction of the size of baffle 12. Generally, the length of linear solidsection 16 ranges between 6 inches to 60 inches. The thickness of 16could be 3/16^(th) of an inch thicker to provide more rigidity to thebaffle system 10. The shape of curved sections 18 depends on thecharacteristics of the water passing through the baffle. Radial anglefor the curved section 18 could range from 180 degrees (half circle) to90 degrees.

Referring to FIG. 4, the length of the open section 20 ranges between 2inches to 32 inches depending on the characteristics of the incomingwater and suspended matter.

Referring to FIG. 5, the cross connector 14 consist of cable clamp andstainless steel washer 24.

1. An integrated perforated flocculating baffle system in a clarifiertank for gravitationally separating suspended matter from liquidcontained in the tank, the tank having a bottom and tank walls boundingthe liquid contained in the tank, said baffle system comprising: Aplurality of interconnected baffles mounted on and supported by theclarifier feedwell in circular tank or a supporting beam in non-circulartanks, each said baffle comprising: An individual baffle extendingdownwardly and vertically inside the tank, said individual baffledefining a space formed between the individual baffle and the verticaltank wall, said individual baffle having linear section, curved sectionand open section, said individual baffle having a radius of curvaturewhich corresponds to the radius of curvature of the clarifiers in caseof circular clarifier; said plural baffles being secured together alongtheir lengths allowing small gap between the individual baffles andforming a rigid wall of baffles.
 2. The baffle system of claim 1,wherein said individual baffle system has a width of about 6 inches to96 inches.
 3. The baffle system of claim 1, wherein said individualbaffle has linear section of about 6 inches to about 60 inches inlength.
 4. The baffle system of claim 1, wherein said individual bafflehas curved sections of radial angle from 45 to 180 degrees.
 5. Thebaffle system of claim 1, wherein said individual baffle has opensections of about 2 inches to about 12 inches in length.
 6. The bafflesystem of claim 1, wherein each individual baffle is molded on areinforced fiberglass composite.
 7. The baffle system of claim 6,wherein each individual baffle has a thickness of about 3/16^(th) of aninch to about ½ (half) of an inch.
 8. The baffle system of claim 1,wherein each individual baffle is made of stainless steel
 316. 9. Thebaffle system of claim 1, wherein said linear solid section furthercomprises an imbedded stainless steel plate and mounting holes forreceiving mounting bolts forming surface-to-surface engagement forsecuring said individual baffle to the clarifier feedwell in circulartank and support beam in non-circular tank.